Feels Good
At the sudden suggestion to hit up karaoke, bewilderment flashed across everyone's faces. Completely oblivious to the mood, Min Ga-hee kept grinning as she said,
"Heehee. I've been drinking, so now I wanna sing."
Seo Joo-hwan shot a baffled look at Min Ga-hee, who was chattering away beside him with a little hum.
What the hell is she thinking?
Anyone could see it was the perfect moment to split off—either keep pounding drinks or head to a motel. Especially Lee Jeong-hoon and Yoon Seol-gi; weren't they already locked in?
And it wasn't just them. From her first question, Min Ga-hee had said she wanted to kiss Seo Joo-hwan, and she'd picked him again as someone she was interested in. So why the out-of-nowhere karaoke pitch?
Sure enough, Yoon Seol-gi looked utterly flustered. Was she worried about missing her shot with Lee Jeong-hoon? Her voice cooled as she spoke.
"Karaoke now?"
"Yeah. I saw a Junco nearby earlier. Drinking and singing there sounds fun."
"Drinking while singing? Min Ga-hee, seriously... Don't you take care of your throat? You know booze ruins your voice."
"...What's one night gonna do? Don't be so uptight."
"You..."
The exchange sharpened unexpectedly. What was the real issue? It didn't seem like mere cluelessness ruining the vibe. Yoon Seol-gi trailed off, now glaring at Min Ga-hee. The latter still smiled, but it felt distinctly different now.
The air turned awkward in an instant. That's when a voice only Seo Joo-hwan could hear rang in his ear.
> A powerful stroke of sex-related luck intervenes.
In that moment, an irresistible force gripped his glass. Friction vanished, and it slipped from his hand.
Crash!
The shattering glass startled the two in standoff the most.
"Mommy!"
"Hic?!"
The frozen tension shattered with the unexpected chaos. Yoon Seol-gi called for her mom, while Min Ga-hee let out a weird noise and shrugged her shoulders.
Lee Jeong-hoon seized the opening masterfully.
"Whoa, that scared me. Hey, Joo-hwan, you drunk already?"
"Sorry. Hand slipped. You two okay? Ga-hee, you good?"
He jumped in smoothly, patting the startled Min Ga-hee's back. She blinked at him with an odd gaze, then flashed a soft smile.
"Oppa, you drunk? Maybe we should call it?"
"Haha, nah, just a slip."
"Ugh, this guy's killing the mood. Let's head out. Oh, Seol-gi, your phone fell."
"Ah, thanks, oppa."
The four gathered their things and stood.
*
Outside, Lee Jeong-hoon grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, mind if I grab a quick smoke?"
"Sure."
"Go ahead."
The women nodded nonchalantly. Out of their sight, he beckoned Seo Joo-hwan.
"Joo-hwan, join me?"
"Got it..."
"Can I come too?"
Yoon Seol-gi cut in. Surprised, Seo Joo-hwan turned to her.
"I wanna smoke one too."
"Huh? You smoke?"
"Yeah, sometimes."
Seo Joo-hwan glanced between the casual Yoon Seol-gi and the silent Min Ga-hee. Yoon Seol-gi hid it well, but her face was downcast; Min Ga-hee smiled faintly, unreadable.
He turned to the troubled Lee Jeong-hoon.
"Hyung, you two go. I'll hang with Ga-hee."
They clearly had stuff to hash out, but ditching Min Ga-hee solo wasn't cool. Besides, Yoon Seol-gi being there would kill any real talk anyway. She caught on quick, wrinkling her nose before giving a small nod.
"Sorry, oppa."
"Huh? For what?"
Playing dumb earned a tiny laugh from Yoon Seol-gi.
"Pfft. Anyway, be right back. Keep Ga-hee company."
"Sure. Take your time."
"Joo-hwan, we'll go then."
"Yeah."
They headed to a nearby alley. Once out of sight, Seo Joo-hwan glanced down at Min Ga-hee—and froze. Her constant smile had crumbled. Without it, she looked like a different person.
Is she pissed?
Thanks to his pre-regression life reading rooms, he was good at faces. But Min Ga-hee? Unfathomable. A bit angry, maybe sorry, even a touch sad?
Tch. I've soothed girls before... huh, yeah I have.
More than he'd thought. Holding Choi Mi-hwa, comforting his little sister and Han Su-ah as kids. He watched her a beat, then gently took her hand.
She startled, looking up. A new expression today.
"You okay?"
"Huh? What?"
Shaking off the surprise, she tilted her head innocently. But that felt even more off. He'd spent 32 years post-maturity reading cues.
...Seo Joo-hwan suddenly wanted to cry, but gripped tighter instead. She fidgeted in his hold, flashing her trademark icy smile.
"Oppa, your hand's huge."
"Right? Girls dig big hands, they say. You?"
"Hmm. Never thought about it, but holding yours? Yeah, big's nice."
Liking it, she didn't pull away. They stood hand-in-hand, silent.
Min Ga-hee spoke first.
"Oppa, sorry."
"Huh?"
"I ruined the vibe."
"Oh, you knew?"
Instead of denying, he teased. Her cheeky grin met his.
"Duh. I'm pretty sharp."
"Eh?"
"Hah, thought I was clueless, huh? I knew everything. Seol-gi's into Jeong-hoon oppa from the start."
"..."
Spot-on. Maybe she was sharp.
She squeezed harder.
"I just play dumb. Suits my personality. And... earlier, teasing Seol-gi got outta hand."
"Booze and karaoke?"
"Whoa, sharp oppa."
He'd heard it, so easy guess. But his real sharpness caught something else.
Softly: "If it was just a slip, why'd you get mad?"
"...Me?"
"Yeah. At Seol-gi?"
"Not sorry?"
"Mad and sorry. Complicated feelings, whatever the reason."
"..."
Caught off-guard, she sighed.
"Oppa, you're too sharp..."
"Tsk tsk. Experience, baby. Age tunes you to emotions."
"Whoa, total ajusshi..."
She let go and stepped back. He pouted for real—joking around.
She burst laughing at his face.
"Oppa face is hilarious. Kidding, kidding."
No intent to spill why. She grabbed his hand again, fingers interlocking. Unexpected calluses on her delicate-seeming digits.
Surprising.
Not just a carefree smiler. Minutes passed like that. The late returners widened eyes at the hand-holders.
Lee Jeong-hoon approached.
"Seol-gi's beat—heading home. Offering to walk her... you two?"
"We..."
"We'll drink more. You go ahead."
Min Ga-hee gripped firm; Seo Joo-hwan nodded agreement.
Yoon Seol-gi offered her phone.
"...Joo-hwan oppa. Number?"
"Huh?"
"Ga-hee won't text, so... send me Kakao?"
Asking him instead of her—still mad, but worried.
"Pfft. Got it."
He couldn't hold back the deflating laugh. Adorably petty fight. Yoon Seol-gi's ears reddened, embarrassed.
*
Min Ga-hee muttered at their backs.
"Home? Joo-hwan oppa, know what?"
"Huh? What?"
"She lives with me. Not going home."
"Yeah, motel or hotel nearby, right?"
"Eek, you caught that?"
He shrugged. Sharp or not? Stating the obvious like a secret.
Didn't know they roomed together.
Jackpot info. Awkward homecoming tonight. Time for a mood shift.
"Shall we go?"
"Huh? E-eh, now? Not in the mood yet..."
Her blushing stammer was funny—belated shyness fitting her. But "yet" meant yes eventually.
He led her hand.
"That later. Karaoke first, right?"
"Oh, karaoke! Uh, Seol-gi'll yell—booze voice..."
She paused, then shook head.
"She smoked too... Let's go!"
"You don't usually?"
"I do, but not around me."
Reason obvious from context. Singer or musical prep, probably.
They reached Junco mid-chat. Settled, ordered snacks and drinks.
"Oppa, me first?"
"Go for it."
"Heehee. What song you like?"
"Taking requests?"
"Yup. I'll sing your pick."
"Hmm..."
He paused. Few songs came to mind—mostly hip-hop listener.
> A powerful stroke of sex-related luck intervenes.
Thinking sparked one.
"IU's Feels Good okay?"
"Guys love IU tracks."
"It's huge. Girls too?"
"Totally. Me too."
Grinning, she queued it. Intro played. He took the remote for next—ballads no, hip-hop yes. But her soft voice killed the plan.
"Morning sunlight streaming in when I wake~"
Feels Good captures a middle-school girl's view of love. Min Ga-hee's low start filled the room gently.
"Smiling, feeling happy~"
Calm track, no punch. Yet her soft falsetto hooked him.
B-rank... still pro-level.
Used to higher talents, but B was expert tier. Ears feasting, he set the remote down.
"All my life~."
Soft, soothing—relaxes, brings smiles. No intensity.
> A powerful stroke of sex-related luck intervenes.
"Don't keep worries locked inside—"
Why the sudden sadness?
"If tears fall, just cry them out—"
"If it hurts again, just laugh it off—"
First thought: illusion. Feels Good is bright teen vibes—no room for sorrow.
"If tears fall, just cry them out—"
"If it hurts again, just laugh it off—"
But chorus repeat hit sad again. Weird. His ear wasn't that attuned. Yet her emotion seeped in. No huge power—blessing effect?
"Feeling good~."
Final line ended it. Screen scored.
100 Points!
Fantastic Voice! You're the best~!
"Kyaa! Oppa, I got 100!"
She bounced over joyfully; he caught and hugged her, patting her back.
"Ga-hee."
"Ah, sorry. Lemme go."
"Nah, it's fine. But hey."
"Yeah?"
Not releasing, she just tilted her head in his arms. He hesitated, then:
"...Something bothering you?"
"Sudden? No. Hmm. Just the Seol-gi fight earlier?"
Bright as ever. Overthinking?
"Good, then. Looked like it."
"Heehee. Nothing. Oppa, can't breathe. Let go?"
"Okay."
Relieved, he released. She slipped out, beaming her icy smile.
"Your turn next..."
Her words cut off. He cupped her face.
"...Why you crying?"
A tear rolled down her smiling cheek.